Box shaped bilge keel

Abstract

A box shaped bilge keel comprises a convex polygonal shaped cross-section. Further, the box shaped bilge keel extends along a pre-determined length of a hull of a floating vessel. Also, the box shaped bilge keel is providing additional width to the hull at the bottom of the floating vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]Embodiments of the present invention relate to floating vessels and more particularly to a box shaped bilge keel for the floating vessels.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Dynamic motions for floating vessels such as FSRUs (Floating Storage Regasification Units) are important design considerations during initial stages of design. Dynamic motions such as heave, roll and pitch motions introduce additional loads on hull structure and operational restrictions during the loading / offloading of cargo. Also, higher dynamic motions affect crew operability and comfort. Bilge keels are usually employed at sides of the floating vessels to reduce tendency of the floating vessels to roll.[0003]Generally, bilge keels are in the form of a ‘strake’ or ‘plate’ on the sides of the floating vessels. Some of the bilge keel designs have been discussed below:[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,191B1 discloses bilge keels for an FPSO type petroleum production system. The bilge keels have two lines of p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The box shaped bilge keel is better than traditional ones because it reduces motion and pitch more effectively.

Problems solved by technology

The aforesaid documents and other solutions may aim to provide bilge keels for floating vessels, however they still suffer from a number of deficiencies.

First, most of the bilge keels are made of plates, while plates can provide only limited stability to the floating vessel.

Further, the plates do not have any impact on reducing heave and pitch motions.

Moreover, the sponson and the wing keel arrangement is rather complex and comparatively expensive to implement.

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